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High-Precision EDM Achieved with Automated External Setup Measurement. First-Ever Collaboration Between Sodick and Mitutoyo
25/08/2025
Hiromiki GotoDirector - Sales Division
Sodick (Thailand) showcased, for the first time in Thailand, an external setup solution in collaboration with precision measurement equipment manufacturer Mitutoyo at Manufacturing Expo 2025 held in June 2025. The demonstration combined Sodick’s die-sinking EDM machine “AL60G” and tooling system “SRC80” with Mitutoyo’s 3D coordinate measuring machine “Meister 555” and EROWA’s “EDM Manager”, offering a solution aimed at improving quality and precision in EDM machining.
▲ Display of the collaborative solution at Manufacturing Expo 2025
High-Precision EDM Through Pre-Measurement with External Setup
Unlike machining with cutting tools such as a machining center, EDM requires a new electrode to be fabricated for each operation, resulting in dimensional variations every time. This makes pre-measuring electrodes essential. In this solution, electrodes are first measured using a 3D coordinate measuring machine, and the data is managed by EROWA’s scheduler. The information is then transferred to the EDM machine, where re-measurement and correction enable fully automated, high-precision machining. Compared with manual or in-machine measurement, this external setup method delivers both labor savings and consistent machining quality.
＜Overview of Exhibited Solution Combination＞
Theme: External Setup Proposal for Improving Quality and Precision in EDM
•Sodick – Die-Sinking EDM Machine “AL60G”
•Sodick – Tooling System “SRC80”
▲ AL60G และ SRC80
●Mitutoyo – 3D Coordinate Measuring Machine “Meister 555”
●EROWA – EDM Manager
Background of the First “Sodick × Mitutoyo” Collaboration in Thailand
The two companies had previously collaborated by showcasing an in-machine measurement system that integrated a Sodick EDM machine with a Mitutoyo camera. Since then, they have established a cooperative framework in Japan and Singapore, which led to this joint exhibition in Thailand. Mitutoyo holds a strong market share in the field of measurement equipment, and many Sodick users already rely on their products, making this combination highly synergistic.
Toward Semi-Automation in EDM Through Setup Efficiency
At the exhibition, attendees commented, “Automation has advanced this far” and “This combination is ready for real production use,” attracting significant attention—even competitors came to observe. In the Thai market, demand currently favors semi-automation and labor-saving solutions over full automation. This proposal aligns perfectly with those needs. Automation does not necessarily require robots; improving setup and measurement efficiency is also an essential form of automation. Against this backdrop, the Sodick × Mitutoyo collaboration presents a practical and highly realistic solution for shop-floor applications.
The First Step Toward Automation in Thailand
In Thailand, the adoption of tool changers has only recently begun to gain momentum, and automation remains in its early stages. Nevertheless, initiatives focusing on quality and precision are steadily expanding. This collaborative solution marks an important first step toward automation and high-precision machining in the Thai market, carrying strong potential for further development in the years ahead.
▲ From left: Uchida, MD of Mitutoyo Thailand; Goto, Sales Division Director of Sodick (Thailand)
